Wondering where it is easiest for the process of an American being allowed to move and eventually work or not in another country? Maybe part-year live there?

islandmom
There are a lot of parameters for moving into the EU countries. You might find this web a bit of help.

http://www.escapeartist.com/

There are some of the information but later google "Expat" and you will find thousands of sites with this experience.

The countries which are the hardest to immigrate. Switzerland, France, UK, Spain, and Germany.

Sweden might be a target, since they're very fair about immigration. Of course the weather is not the best of Europe.

I would like Holland to be a good target but I'm not sure why I say this comment. Maybe I would like to live there too.

The new countries might be a good choice.

Maybe some of the other posters will be more helpful.

Blackduff

IMO, this question is far too broad for anyone to be of any real help.

why?:

you could be moving on the basis of work experience, qualification or education...what is needed in this area varies greatly from country to country. for example, some countries need doctors and nurses (and therefore may grant visas), others do not. this depends on YOUR qualifications, education and experience.

many americans have citizenship claims based on ancestors. this might make it easier for you in some countries. for example, many claim citizenship in ireland. this depends on YOUR heritage.

maybe the company you work for today has a big office in a country that is difficult to move to...this may make that country the easiest for YOU to move to. nobody knows.

if you do become resident or citizen, do you need to work and support yourself? this is not clear from your post. if you don't have the language and connections needed to get a decent job in say, italy or latvia, then just being able to live there may not do you any good if you need to support yourself (as most of us do).

there are a million books and websites for expats. you need to do a bit of research first and get some ideas. if you have more specific questions, then maybe someone can be of more help here.

there are also a million strategies to doing this and the course you take depends on your individual circumstances and requirements. a country that is difficult for one person may be easy for another.

What always astonishes me about this sort of question is to ask about the "easiest" or the "cheapest" place for something or other apparently without any consideration as to whether it is a "good" place or not.

For some folks, the terms "easiest," "cheapest." "good," and "best," seem to be synonymous.

A friend of mine who is partnered with an EU citizen just moved (June) to the south of France where they purchased some property. The friend is about to get a permit to work but he is a physician and they are in demand.

France has a list of priority jobs for which it is willing to simplify immigration rules. Among them are nurses, lumberjacks and qualified restaurant workers.

>France has a list of priority jobs for which it is willing to simplify immigration rules. Among them are nurses, lumberjacks and qualified restaurant workers.

Similar lists exist in Switzerland and probably most European countries.

I would be surprised, though, if a European employer would agree to get a work permit for a non-seasonal type of job for someone who only wants to live in the country part time.
As for Holland, for a country that prides itself on tolerance, age discrimination is very entrenched there. If you are over 45, your chances of getting a work permit are close to nil. Also, while the Netherlands is not the cheapest country to live in (esp. in the Amsterdam area), don't be surprised if most employers have "crocodile arms" when it comes to salaries (that is, arms too short to reach their wallets).
When it comes to work permits, Switzerland is...interesting. Each canton gets a certain number of permits per year. If you are granted one of the coveted year-long permits and you quit your job after two months, that permit is still out of action for the rest of the year. It doesn't go back into the pile, so to speak. So employers are very careful about their non-seasonal job hires. (There are ways around all this, of course, esp. if you work for a company that has "pull", for example, one of the big pharmas in Basel.)
On German TV the other day, there was a story about how Poland is desperate for skilled IT workers. The mayor of Wroclaw was on the show saying the city has the money and the jobs, but still not enough IT workers. And Poland is one of Europe's more pro-America countries.

>And Poland is one of Europe's more pro-America countries.

Just because the Polish government and a big part of the media decided to support US in some of it's disagreements with the European countries doesn't mean that they emulate much from the USA. Outside Warsaw the level of social conformity required to feel well is very high and the requirements are very different from the Western European countries and the USA.
The current duo in the Polish government (Kaczynsky/Kaczynsky) is just as "pro-American" as Musharraf of Pakistan.

Just for the case my previous post sounds harsh: I don't compare all of Poland to all of Pakistan, just the two persons.

The first questions would be: what languages do you speak, and what do you do for your occupation? Unless you can claim familial ties, you'll need to find a sponsor for work.

UK has a working holiday scheme but this is for Commonwealth citizens. UK also has highly skilled migrant scheme--eg if you are a medical doctor or have MBA, advanced degree etc.

I think they're all meant for full-year, long-term move rather than a part-year stay.

Brtain's misleadingly named Highly Skilled Migrant Programme is NOT restricted to people with advanced degrees. Or even to people with degrees. There's a complex points system Islandmom can consult at the UKVisas site. But essentially, it's given to anyone, from anywhere, with a first degree or equivalent and good career development - though the criteria get more demanding once you're over 30.

And it is granted entirely on the basis of an applicant's qualifications and career history. Whether a successful HSMP visa holder chooses to live here for one, or 365, days a year in entirely up to the visa holder. With an HSMP, they can choose to do whatever work they can get. And since it lets them live here for five years or more, they can then get UK citizenship - and with it the right to live and work in most of the other EU member states.

Poland is short of skilled workers because of EU labour movements – in short they’re all in England or Ireland. They want their own people to go back – not to import a bunch of foreigners to take their place!

As was said above there are certain rules about moving here. Most countries are happy to take rich people, so if you can show a certain amount of liquid wealth, then you will be welcomed with open arms, also if you ainvesting in the country you will also get the red caprpet teatment.

Again, if you have a specific skill there may be a demand for it (or instance chinese and indian chefs get a waiver on the visa requirement).

It is possible to work illegaly – lots of people do it, but their lives are seriously grotty, so I wouldn’t recommend it.

@ islandmom

Easist place for European to move to America?

Wondering where it is easiest for the process of an European being allowed to move and eventually work or not in another country?

Thank you, I was wondering the legal process. Of course from there I'd pick the safest, best fit. Thinking more of a second home yet being allowed work or schooling.

Good comment HHildebrandt.
My fiance's daughter was sent back to Germany after going to university in the US AND having a job.

Michael has his registered alien status, but it did not matter. And now, for her, the immigration attorney said that perhaps she could get in in 6 or 7 years...

The UK has a shortage category for people who have skills in short supply too.

And an HSMP permit is granted for one or 2 years and one may, if established in the UK, apply to have it expended for up to 3 years.

You have to have been here 5 years before you can apply to stay on the basis of having been here.

I wasn't aware Poland had a shortage of skilled workers and they were all in Ireland or somewhere. They have the highest unemployment rate in the EU and have for years. I remember when I was in Prague last month reading an article in the local newspaper about how so many Poles were emigrating to the Czech Republic to find work because there wasn't any at home, and it was a good fit for them (similar language, not far, etc.). These weren't people without skills, either, as I recall, but people with some trade skills (plumbers, etc.). So maybe they don't have IT workers in Wroclaw, but it isn't a country with a lot of jobs. I was just in Wroclaw, actually, and liked it a lot, but I wouldn't want to live there.

If you just want to live but NOT work in another country, you can apply for a long-term residence's permit or visa in most any country, and no one European country would be more "difficult" than another, IMO, in granting such a visa to US citizens. You have to show that you can support yourself (provide bank accounts, income from investments, etc). As an example, take a look at the requirements for a long-term residence's permit in France, go to http://www.consulfrance-toronto.org/...id_article=536

It is when you want to WORK in another country that it becomes more difficult, because in that country's view, you are taking away a job from a local citzen. As noted above, in that case you have to have a work permit (or start your own business and in that case generally invest a substantial amount of funds to get a business visa). You have to find an employer willing to sponsor you, and also as noted above, it is quite unlikely that you can be sponsored or approved for a work permit for casual labour like waitressing, clerical office work, etc. However, if you have an Irish or Italian grandparent, you MAY quality for an Irish or Italian passport which would give you the right to live AND work in any EU country without needing any residence visa or work permit. This would obviously be a very valuable thing. For info on whether you qualify for Italian citizenship, take a look at the website for the Italian Embassy in the US at http://www.italyemb.org/. I find this site hard to use, but you may have more luck. For info on obtaining Irish citizenship, look at http://www.irelandemb.org/fbr.html.

However, if for the moment you just want to live in a country as a second residence for part of each year, all you need to do is look into get a long-term residence visa. As a start, why don't you think about taking an extended vacation to one or more of the countries you are considering. As a US citizen, you can stay in the EU without any visa for up to 90 days as a tourist. Same with Switzerland, and the name is generally true of most other non-EU countries in Europe; but check the website of the embassy of each country you are considering as some countries have different rules and some, like Russia, require you to have a visa to enter as a tourist. You could easily rent an apartment on a short term basis (try vrbo.com) to see if you like a place, and then think about longer term residence. You could also explore the requirements for long-term residence visa. Your children should be able to get a dependent's visa or their own long-term residence's visa, and with either, can go to school, either the local public school or a private school.

There are tax issues associated with long-term residence in another country (even if you aren't working your income may be taxed), and health insurance issues as you may not quailfy for local coverage. You would need to discuss the tax issues with an accountant who has international tax experience. Some countries do not allow US citizens to buy real estate, and some countries have inheritance laws regarding local real estate which may frustrate your ability to leave your property to the people you wish to do so, so you would need to look into those issues as well.

As an immigrant, I can tell you right now that the country you move to is not the problem or the solution, but what you yourself can do as an employee or business owner. In Spain (where I am), immigrating as an employee is extremely difficult. In fact, of all the working options, it is the most difficult because you have to get so many people to cooperate. Basicallly, you 1) find a job. 2) convince that job that you are necessary and better than everyone else in the whole country. 3) get your boss to agree to shell out the time and money to keep you working there legally. 4) pay all the lawyer fees, go to court, return home for the paperwork process, etc.

As a business owner, you have it easier. Sink your money into a business alongside a Spaniard (you need a Spaniard on the initial paperwork except in some random cases), and your papers will come along slowly but surely.

I understand the lure of wanting to live abroad, but be realistic about it. What skills do you have that would be a commodity abroad? I can tell you right now that if your only concern is ease of process, you are not made to be an immigrant.